Separating and purifying apparatus for liquids



April 30, 1929. J}, sc AFE I 1,711,428

SEPARATING AND PURIFYI-NG APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS Filed May 31, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JJe ip mvervrag J. SCHAFER April 30, 1929.

Filed may" 51, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 276 i u 1 m r 3O different density and that, also at the inlet ofthe apparatus, is arranged a filter ng sur- UNITED S A Patented Apr. 30, 1929. I

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' o SCHKFER, or PARIS, rRANcn snrnnnrxne 'Ann runrryrne APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS.

Application filed May 31, 1927, Serial No. 195,539, and in France June, 15, 1926. v

This invention has for object an apparatus adaptedto separate liquids of different densities. It is particularly applicable to the purification of gasoline and then servesto separate the drops of water or other liquids heavier than gasoline and, moreover, to free it from other foreign bodies or impurities it may contain; I I l This apparatus'is essentially characterized by a closed chamber wherein passes the liquid to be purified, this chamber-permanently con? taining a liquid heavier than the preceding one and nonmiscible with it, for instance waterfon which the first, for instance, gasoline, passes, the level of the heavy liquid being constantly maintained betweentwo well determined limits.

The invention is characterized, moreover, by a float arranged i'n'the above-mentioned chamber, carrying two closing members, one capable of acting on the flow of the gasoline, or other liquid to be purified, the other on that ofthe water, and-so arranged that, in

case of excess of heavy liquid suddenly occurring, the passage of the light liquid will then be closed.

Another feature of theinvention is that p the gasoline, when entering the apparatus,

encounters a partition or surface, which --de-' terminesthe separation of the elements of face stoppingthe' solid materials. The invention is further characterized by the application in the apparatus-and consequently before the carburettor-of: means adapted to simultaneously render regular the'fiow of the fluid fuel at the same time i .as' to purify it.

In a method of carrying out the invention,

the wall upon which strikes the jet of gasoline is perforated with one or more orifices through which the said combustible fluid .passes from the exterior to the interior of the chamber, this regularizing the movement of Preferably, this orifice is provided in a groove formed exteriorly to the. member, spes cifically the body of the plug of the appa' v 2 amethod' of carrying out the inven ion and I 'Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view.

= I in Figure 3, a modification.

. Fig. 1 is a vertical section,

- a,,and issues throng Fig. 3 is a. section of a modification.

Fig. 4 1s a horizontal section made accordmg to A-A of Fig. 3. 1 1

As illustrated in the drawing, the apparatus comprises a vat a'on which is screwed a part b constituting a lid the joint between these two parts is ensured byengagement of a rib a of triangular cross section into a groove 0 of rectangular cross section. This method of junction avoids the use of any apxil ary means such as leather, packing, e c.

In the part b is formed a chamber 0 closed by a screw-threaded plug d, and into which the admlssionof theliquid to be purified. takes place. This liquid is admitted through a pipe e connected to the part b and opening in the chamber 0. a l

The plug d is provided with a part fprojecting inside the chamber and opposite the 9 pipe e; so that the liquid entering the apparatus strikes against this part Underneath is arranged a movableperforated memher 9 supporting a wire gauze g; a spring g holds this wire gauze in fixed position.-

The lower partof the chamber 0 communi- I nel 7a through which issues the purified liquid;

a pipe k connects the apparatus to the car- I burettor. The needlevalve j can fit upon the inlet of a pipe Z, connecting the vatto another tank on, which is closed and is "provided with a U-shaped pipe n;

The operation is as follows 1: The apparatus is first filled with a liquid heavier than the liquid to be purified and of suitable nature and in general, the heavier of the liquids to be separated. .For instance, n the case of 'gaso ine, the apparatus is filled with water. For that purpose, the plug d is removed and water is poured and-fills the vat a and tank m up to the level ZZ.

At this moment the -U-shaped tube 12) fills up and the water flows away until the level has reached the line 'Y'Y; at this moment,

the U-shaped tubes empties. The plug d is put back into place; If the liquid to be purified is then admitted through the pipe 6 into ,the apparatus and this liquid, fills up the spacewhich has remainedemptv in the apparatus, passes over the water filling the vat hthqchannel hand the,

tube 70 Butiby passingthrough the apparatus it has been purified; .in fact, in thedensities takes place. For instance, the

small drops of water are'collected to form larger drops of waterand these fall more quickly than gasoline. The wire gauze does not sto themand they collect within the mass 0' 'water contained in a and m. The solid impurities are stopped by the wire gauze g. The liquid which arrives at is has therefore been purified.

The water collecting in the vat a, its level rises; at acertain time the float h is lifted this allowing a certain quantity of this water to pass into the tank m. When-the water level in this tank m reaches the line Z Z,the U-shaped tube fills up and an automatic blow through action takes place. k 7

The new device can be placed at any point relatively to the apparatus it must feed. In the case of a carburettor, it is placed before the latter on the gasoline pipe line. It can also be integral with the carburettor and the vat a can be the lower extension of the chamber of the carburettor.

In the form of construction of Figs 3 and 4, the apparatus comprises again, a vat a, on

which is screwed a lid 6 in which is formed a chamber .0 in which arrives the liquid admitted through 6; this chamber has a wall 7.

upon which takes lace the shock determining the separation o? the liquids bf different densities. The vat a always contains a certain quantity of water the level of which can vary from a lower level N to an upper level 4 The float h is rigid with the rod 7L carrying at each of its ends a needle valve. The upper needle valve i'is adapted to close the passage of the lightestliquid, gasoline'for instance when the float reaches the upper portion of its stroke. The lower needle valve j is adapted to close a conduit Z which is a blow through conduit. The latter is normally closed by another needle valve 1 carried by a screw plug 1).

The plug dis provided with an orifice d which, preferably, is formed approximate};

in the plane of the axis of the ing conduit 6.

- This orifice is provided in a groove a! formed externally to the wall of the plug.

gasoline fee Instead of a single orifice, several orifices might be distributed on the periphery of the groove u.

The operation is as follows; Letus suppose the apparatus is placed for instance between the gasoline tank and a car burettor.

It must be filled with a certain quantityof water. For filling it, the plug d is removed,

float rises and the needle valve j opens. The

excess of water flows away through the hole 1' and the level comes to N. The apparatus is then ready to operate; the plugd is screwed on. again. The lug p is also screwed on again, although this is' not indispensable.

When gasoline is caused to enter-through 0,

it encounters the wall f. 7 Under the action of the shock, the drops of water separate and collect into larger drops. These pass with the gasoline through the filter g and fall more quickly than gasoline in the vat. The solid particles are retained by the filter g.

The water, or other liquid heavier than gasoline, accumulates in the vat a, and causes the level of the separation plane of the two liquids to rise. The gasoline which passes over the water abandons its last impurities,

fatty matters, etc. and after being thus urified proceeds through the passage .8 an the conduit 70,10 to the carburettor.

When by accumulation of the impurities the plane of separation reaches the level N, the float sufficiently rises for. causing the needle valve i to close the passage for the gasoline. Y The admission of gasoline being then stopped, one is thus warned that it is necessary to empty the apparatus. In order to do this; it suifices to unscrew the plug p and the heavy liquid can flow to the exterior; when the flowing away ceases. The plug p is screwed on again. .The level has automatigines, this allowing to obtain a very substan -ti al economy for an equal power.

The cleaning of the gasoline by water produces a remarkable purification.

The gasoline by contact with water is freed of all its impuritieswhich ass into this water, so that when theblow t rough operation is effected they are .eliminatedat the same time.

regularize the flowing away of the fluid ar- The orifice or orifices d have for eifect to The apparatus can be cleaned when del riving through the conduit 6. This fluid strikes against the wall f of the plug body as explained above. The liquid then passes, through the hole d within the plug, and from there. comes to the filter 9. Experience shows that the results obtained in these conditions are better.

ing the flow of the gasoline. It is known that, v

The device forming the subject-matter of this invention and interposed between the fuel tank and the carburettor, effects retardupon restarting of the engine, a sudden suction of gasoline takes place. In carburettors directly connected to the engine, nothing prevents the afllux of gasoline in the vessel. A

. owing to the changes of direction and to the interposition of the orifice al and of the filter and the inconvenience which has just been- 'indicated'is avoided. The presence of the passage (1 diminishes the pressure of the gasoline and prevents it from entering 1n too large quantity into the carburettor upon restarting. r

It is to be understood that the variouspassages and cross sections are given the required vzfilulqs for obtaining a suitable slowing down 0 t e gine from reaching its maximum power.

, Claims .1. In a separating and purifying device for mixed liquids of different specific gravity,

a vat having an inlet and two outlets, one of the'latter for each of the separated liquids, means for automatically maintaining a constant level of the heavier liquid in said vat,

a surface in the liquid inlet chamber against which the liquid to be purified strikes, said surface having a groove and orifices for the passage of the separated liquids formed in said groove.

2. In a separating and purifying device for mixed liquids of different specific gravity,

a vat having an inlet and two outlets, one of the latter for each of the separated liquids, a fixed quantity of the heavier liquid contained in the vat, a float in said vat, a rod rigid in said float terminated by two needle valves. one closing in one position of the float, the heavier liquid outlet and the other closing in another position of the float the asoline without preventing the enlighter liquid outlet, a member fitting on the vat carrying the inlet and one of the outlets having a screw-threaded opening therein, a plug screwed in said opening, and a filter placed in the bottom of the plug housing.

3: In a separating and purifying device for mixed liquids of different specific gravity, 8., vat having an inlet and two outlets, one of the the inlet and one of said outlets having a screw-threaded opening therein, a plug screwed in said open1ng,'sa1d plug carrying a wall forming an extension and upon which the mixed liquid strikes and a filter placed in the bottom of the plug housing.

4.. In .a separating and purifying device for mixed liquids of a different specific gravity, a vat having an inlet and two outlets, one of the latter for eachof said separated liquids, a fixed quantity of the heavier liquid contained-in said vat, a float in said vat, a rod rigid with said float terminating in two needle valves, one closing the heavier liquidoutlet, a memberfitting on the vat and carrying-the inlet and one of the outlets having an opening therein, a plug screwed in said opening, said plug carrying a wall forming an extenslon and upon which the mixed,

liquid strikes, and a filter placed at the bottom of said plug housing, said walls having orifices formed therein.

5.. In a separating and purifying device for mixed liquids of different specific gravities a vat having an inlet and two outlets, one of the latter for each of said separated liquids,

a fixed quantity of the heavier liquid filling I said vat, a float in said vat, a rod rigid with said float terminated by two needle valves, one closing in one position of the float the heavier liquid outlet, a member-fitted on the vat carrying said inlet and one of said outlets and having a screw-threaded opening therein, a plug screwedin said opening, said plug carrying a wall forming an extension and upon which the mixed liquid strikes, and a filter placed in the bottom of the plug housing, said plug being provided with a groove 1n said wall and having orifices provided in said groove.

The foregoing specificationof my Sepa rating and purifying apparatus forliquids signed by me this 20th day of May, 1927.

JEAN soHAFER.

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